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The Right Kind of Help? Tax Incentives for Staying Small

Author

Listed:
  • Ms. Dora Benedek
  • Mr. Pragyan Deb
  • Mr. Borja Gracia
  • Mr. Sergejs Saksonovs
  • Ms. Anna Shabunina
  • Mrs. Nina Budina

Abstract

Some countries support smaller firms through tax incentives in an effort to stimulate job creation and startups, or alleviate specific distortions, such as financial constraints or high regulatory or tax compliance costs. In addition to fiscal costs, tax incentives that discriminate by firm size without specifically targeting R&D investment can create disincentives for firms to invest and grow, negatively affecting firm productivity and growth. This paper analyzes the relationship between size-related corporate income tax incentives and firm productivity and growth, controlling for other policy and firm-level factors, including product market regulation, financial constraints and innovation. Using firm level data from four European economies over 2001–13, we find evidence that size-related tax incentives that do not specifically target R&D investment can weigh on firm productivity and growth. These results suggest that when designing size-based tax incentives, it is important to address their potential disincentive effects, including by making them temporary and targeting young and innovative firms, and R&D investment explicitly.

Suggested Citation

  • Ms. Dora Benedek & Mr. Pragyan Deb & Mr. Borja Gracia & Mr. Sergejs Saksonovs & Ms. Anna Shabunina & Mrs. Nina Budina, 2017. "The Right Kind of Help? Tax Incentives for Staying Small," IMF Working Papers 2017/139, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2017/139
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    Cited by:

    1. Serhan Cevik & Fedor Miryugin, 2022. "Death and taxes: Does taxation matter for firm survival?," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 92-112, March.
    2. Wei Cui & Mengying Wei & Weisi Xie & Jing Xing, 2021. "Corporate Tax Cuts for Small Firms: What Do Firms Do?," CESifo Working Paper Series 9389, CESifo.
    3. Serhan Cevik & Fedor Miryugin, 2018. "Does Taxation Stifle Corporate Investment? Firm‐Level Evidence from ASEAN Countries," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 51(3), pages 351-367, September.

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